If there was one thing that I learned from Gov. Howard Dean, it was that our key to success is to embrace that fact that we are part of the Democratic party, and that nobody puts the Democratic wing of the party into the corner. The Democrats received a mandate to enact change November of 2008, and by golly, we're actually starting to do it now. Thanks to the tireless efforts of many, we have Health Insurance Reform and it looks like financial reform is the next thing on our plate. Last month, we saw bravery in those who proudly stood up for their constituents and voted yes to more access to health care and reining in the worst of the insurance industry. There were those who decided to side with the murder by spreadsheet industry and voted no even though their district went for Obama in large numbers. I'm going spend my effort fighting for those who fight for the people rather than to save someone who voted for the real "death panels".
I saw two posts here today that have got me fired up and ready to go to push back against those who want us to be more like the Republicans. The first one was on the front page: HI-01: DCCC May Back Case Over Hanabusa. That's Exhibit A of the DC establishment's tone deafness. I would think that Hawaii's two Democratic Senators would have a much better handle on who can win in the Aloha State than whichever hack is running the DCCC. A DLC Democrat with anemic fundraising numbers in a blue state is just asking for a repeat of Corzine or Coakley. The second is a diary from an excellent Senate candidate named Jennifer Brunner. A Big Bright Line I've diaried before on how Brunner is the best candidate on the issues in Ohio. Why a decent Democrat on paper like Lee Fisher would feel the need to say that "Washington is failing Ohio" is beyond me. Didn't these people learn from 1994, 2000 and 2004? Running away from your party is a losing strategy. I venture to say that the real problem isn't Washington: it's politicians that care more about basketball than actually doing anything that helps the working class.
I knew last fall that I wanted to help those Democrats who fight for us. That's why I joined Peanut Butter PAC and if there are Kossacks out there like me, I would be happy for you to join me. We are about small dollar donations from our members which will eventually snowball into a huge donation for a worthy Democrat. We have $2 Tuesday, $3 Thursdays and $5 Fridays and we are also accepting working capital donations. I helped construct our seven principles which are:
1. To support Job Creation with good pay and benefits, and to protect and preserve good jobs for the American people, as well as to support and defend the rights of all Americans to organize and participate in Labor Unions.
2. To support and promote a sustainable and environmentally friendly Energy Policy that will lead America away from the unsustainable consumption of Fossil Fuels and America’s dependence on foreign energy sources.
3. To rebuild America’s outdated and depreciated infrastructure and transportation systems.
4. To support and defend the civil rights of all Americans as envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and defined by the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America in order to ensure the civil rights of all Americans regardless of race, religion, creed, original nationality, sex or sexual orientation.
5. To promote and defend non-profit health insurance and to promote and support quality health care for all Americans through reforms and policies such as, but not limited to, Medicare for All.
6. To support and promote America’s public education system and education reforms that bear in mind the best interests of the American people.
7. To fight Corporate and Special Interests influence in Government by supporting and defending Campaign Finance Reform and supporting and advocating on behalf of Publicly Funded Elections.
# 3 was my biggest contribution to that, and #7 was crafted after a suggestion of mine.
I also just happened to see mcjoan's front page post on Iraq. Isn't it funny how "everyone" started with Howard Dean? This proud "Deanie Baby" knows that Dean is often right before the majority of Americans realize what right is.